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July 10, 1928.

J. S. STRING HYDROCARBON BURNER SYSTEM Filed Au 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet IIVVEIVTOR' d05PH 5. STRING T W; 4% AfiOH/VE July 10, 1928,

J. S. STRING HYDROCARBON BURNER SYSTEM 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug; 11, 1926 nwmron JOSEPH 5. STRING Mu/mu Patented July 10, 1928. n

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH S. STRING, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 J. S. 80 J. F. S'JJIR'ING INCORPORATED, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HYDROCARBON-BURNEB SYSTEM.

This invention relates to that type of hydrocarbon burner systems in which the fuel is exteriorly atomized by means of air or steam or any other expansive fluid and more particularly to those systems in which the fuel igniting device employs two pilots, a major and a minor one, the latter of which remains lighted at all times and is used simply to light the major one while the major one is used to ignite the atomized fuel.

The principal object of the invention is the production of a novel igniting device in a burner system of the type described 1 so constructed as to immediately and automatically shut off the supply of fuel and air to the burner proper and the supply of gas to the major pilot or either of them if the flame of the minor pilot for any reason becomes extinguished.

A further object of the invention is theproduction of a hydrocarbon burner system in which one pilot light only is used and which provides for the automatic shutting off of the air and fuel or either of them when the light is extinguished.

Further and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the accompanying description the invention consisting in the novel hydrocarbon burner system and igniting device and parts thereof hereinafter more particularly described and then specified in the claims. 1 In the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the various parts of the system.

Fi 2 is a section taken throu h the igniting device with its safety attac ment.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section on the 'line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the igniting device.

Referring to the drawings:

1 indicates the side plates, preferably of steel, of the casing of the igniting device having a safety attachment to be presently described. Said side plates are tied together at various points by a plurality of bolts and nuts 2 one or more of which extend through an upper wall 3 comprising a squared bar and one or more of which extend through a lower wall 4 comprising a rectangular flat bar. provided with a plurality of air openings 5 therein. The lower wall 4 extends outwardly beyond .the rear edges of the side plates 1 and has an angle piece 6 secured thereto as clearly shown in The lower wall 4 at or adjacent its forward end carries a minor gas pilot 11'connected by a pipe 12 with any source of gas supply while the upper wall 3 carries a major gas pilot 13 connected by a pipe 14 to a gas valve 15 of any conventional ty c, said valve being also connected to the pipe 12. The .major gas pilot 13, it will be noted, extends forwardly in a direction-at right angles to the minor gas pilot 11.

16 indicates a thermal rod of. a material such as brass having a high coefiicient of expansion which is provided with a head 17 having an opening 18 extending vertically therethrough in alignment with the minor gas pilot 11. Said head is also provided at either side thereof with pins 18 extending through suitable openings in the side walls 1 and providing a support for the headed end of said thermal rod. The rear end of said thermal rod extends loosely through an opening in a supporting block 19 which is detachably secured intermediate the side walls 1 by bolts and nuts 20. The rearwall 7 is provided with a screwthreaded opening therein approximately centrally thereof and forming a part of the slot 8 which receives a screw-threaded bolt 21 provided'with an opening therein extending centrally and longitudinally therethrough which slidably receives a pin 22 the forward end of which is in alignment with the rear end of the thermal rod 16.

The rear end of said pin 22 is headed and has a reduced portion 23 ofa configuration permitting itto be received by the slotted end of a spring 24 the upper end of which is perforated and receives the shank of a screw extending through a stud 26 and threading within a suitable screw-threaded opening in the rear wall 7. .The action of the s ring 24 tends to press the pin 22 forwar y in the bolt 21 to retain its endin proximity to the rear end of the thermal rod 16. To adjust the position of the end of the pin 22 as respects the rear end of the thermal rod 16 it is merely necessary to turn the screw-threaded bolt 21 in the properdirection, the forward position of said pin 22 being limited by the head of the.

bolt 21 which contacts with the head 23 of the pin 22 by the action of the spring 24. The screwthreaded bolt 21 may be locked in any desired adjusted position by means of the screw 9 which is tightened by its head 10 and which acts to squeeze together the bisected parts of the upper end of the wall 7 forming the slot 8.

The rear wall 7 and the angle piece 6 are pzovided with suitable openings forming arings for a tumbler rod 27 carrying a,

' wedge-shaped eccentric portion or detent'28 tionally on its forward end which normally isfricheld intermediate the forward end of the pin 22 and the rear end ofthe thermal rod 16 all .as more clearly shown, in Fig. 2. Said tumbler-rod 27 and detent' together constitute a switch-actuator. The

rear end of said tumbler rod extends through and is detachably secured to a weighted bar 29 provided with spring cli s 30 removably holding a glass mercury tube mercury and constituting an electrical'switch which is provided with electrical terminals or binding posts 32, one wire 33 from which leads to a source of current supplywhile the other wire 3.4 leadsto and is connected with a terminal of an electric motor 35 as shown in Fig. 1.

The weighted bar'29, if so desired, may carry a protective shield 36. Secured to the forward end of the wall 4 and extending around for a certain distance on the side walls 1 is a removable vwall 37 acting to protect the space intermediate the head of the tumbler rod 16 and the minor gas pilot 11 .from air currents and drafts while the space over the major gas pilot 13 is protected by 'a shield 38 which is deta'chably secured to one of the side walls as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Y

The other terminal'of the motor 35 is 1 'electricall connected .to a thermostat 39 of any fluid pipe line'40 to the atomizing fluid pas-' sageway 41:0f a burner 42; said airline 31 containing news-z? also being connected by an air pipe 43 to an air chamber 44 which communicates with and is adapted to open by air pressure the valve 15 in the gas pipe 14. The burner 42 also carries a fuel nozzle 45 which-is connected by the pi e 46 with an oil or other fuel tank 47, sai tank being also connected by pipe 48 with the air pipe 40.

When the device is operating the motor 35 is running and itmay be turned on and off either by automatic operation of the thermostat 39 caused by changes of temperature or by any form of switch. This actuates the air blower 39 which forces air into the air chamber 44 and opens the gas valve 15 to permit gas to flow throughthe pipe 14 and through the'major pilot 13. As the minor pilot 11 always has a free communication with the source of gas supply through the pipe 12, it is constantly kept lighted. As soon as the gas however flowsthrough the major gas pilot-13 it is lighted by the flame from the minor pilot'11.- Simultaneously air is being forced through the pipe 40 by the blower 39' through the atomizingfluid passageway .41 and also into the tank. 47 through the pipe 48. The pressure in the tank forces the oil or other fuel therein up through the pipe 46 and out of the nozzle 45 whereit is atomized bythe air forced through the passageway 41. The atomized fuel is ignited by means of the flame from the major pilot 13, these parts, however, not

being shown inoperative relation in Fig. 1

as that figure is a diagrammatic one as has heretofore been explained. Y

When the device is functioning properly I the eccentric portion or detent '28 of the tumbler rod 27 is frictionally held intermediate the forward end of the pin '22 and rear end of the thermalrod 16. When in this position the mercury tube 31 is substantially in a horizontal position as shown-in Fig. 4 and the electric current flows through one terminal 32, through the mercury and then through the otherterminal of the tube.

This frictional contact of the eccentric portion of detent 28 between the pin 22 and thermal rod 16 is maintained by the expan sion of the thermal rod 16 after it has become heated by= the flame from the minor "pilot 11. ,Should the flame become extinguished, however, from the minor pilot, the

thermal rod 16 cools and contracts thus releasing the detentor eccentric portion 28 and causing the tumblerrod 27 to rotate by reason of the weight of the barh29. The mercury tube 31 is-then' thrown to a position at thus releasing the air pressure generated by the blower 39 and causing .the valve 15 to an angle from the horizontal, as shown in close to prevent gas flowing through the pipe 14 and shutting ofl any'further flow of fuel or oil through the jet and air through the air passageway 41 in an obvious manner. In some cases a considerable loss of fuel and gas would thus be prevented, the only loss being that of the gas flowing through the minor pilot.

It will be noted that the side walls of the head 17 of the thermal rod contact at a small portion thereof only with the side walls 1, thus permitting only a slight loss, of heat by radiation from said thermal rod to said side we s.

It will be noted, furthermore, that the is required to expand the thermal rod to sustain the load and in consequence a. small minor pilot light may be used and a saving of gas effected.

I claim as my invention:

1. An igniting device for a hydrocarbon burner system comprising a pilot light, a thermal rod adapted to expand by the heat from said-pilot light and having a free end and a pivoted end, said ends being so -lo cated that the heat of said pilot light will strike said rod intermediate thereof, a switch actuator frictionally engaging said thermal rod and a device constituting an electric switch associated with said switch actuator and adapted to function automatheated b ically upon disengagement of said switch actuator with said thermal rod.

2. An igniting device for a hydrocarbon burner system comprising a pilot light, a thermal rod adapted to be expanded by the heat from said pilotlight, a switch actuator having an eccentric portion frictionally engaging said thermal rod, means for yieldingly holding said eccentric portion into engagement with said thermal rod and a device constituting an electric switch carried by said switch actuator and adapted to function automatically upon disengagement ofdsaid eccentric portion with said thermal ro 3. An igniting device for a hydrocarbon burner system comprising a pilot, a rod made of expansible metal adapted to be the flame of said ilot, a detent frictiona ly engaging said ro constituting an electric switch connected and a device with said detent and adapted to function automatically upon disengagement of said mal rod having one end fixed and the other end free and provided with a head having an opening therein in alignment with said pilot, a detent frictionally engaging said thermal rod whenit is ex anded by the heat of the flame from said pilot and an automatic electric switch connected to said detent and adapted to be thrown into inoperative position when said detent is disengaged from said thermal rod; I

5. An igniting device for ahydrocarbon burner system comprising a pilot, a thermal rod adapted to be heated by the flame from said pilot and havingone end fixed and the other end free, a pin mounted in alignment with the free end of said thermal rod, a detent frictionally held intermediate said pin and said free end, means for yieldingly permitting movement of said pin upon expansion of said thermal rod and a device constituting a switch connected to said detent.

6. An igniting device for a hydrocarbon burner system comprising two side plates in spaced relation, a thermal rod mounted therein and provided with a head a restricted portion only of which engages said side plates, a switch actuator frictionally engaging said thermal rod, a pilot the flame of which is adapted to expand said thermal rod to assume an operative position as respects said switch actuator and a device constituting an electric switch operatively engaging said switch actuator.

7. An igniting device for a hydrocarbon burner system comprising a thermal rod, a pilot light for expanding the same, a split support, a bolt having an opening mounted in said support, a pin extending said opening in alignment with sand thermal rod, means for drawing the split portions of said support together to hold said bolt in varying positions of adjustment, a'tumbler rod frictionally held intermediate said thermal rod and pin and an electric switch carried by said tumbler rod.

8. An igniting device for a hydrocarbon burner system comprising a thermal rod,

a pilot light for expanding the satne, a pin,

through I a switch actuator frictionally held between said pin and thermal rod and adapted to operative position,. a switch actuator h switch adapted to automatically function ing a jportion thereof frictionally engg'agi n gg upon such disengagement.

7 said thermal rod at a point eccentric to 'the Signed at Newark in the county of Essex 10 longitudinal axis of the body of said switch and State of New 'ersey, this 9th day of 5 actuator and adapted to move from disen- August, A. D. 1926.

gagement with said thermal rod upon contraction of said thermal rod and an electric JOSEPH S." STRING, 

